Isolation and Characterization of Mycobacterium spp. from Diseased Clownfish

• Main Authors: Miguel Shevaughn Flemming, 米格爾
• Other Authors: Shih-Chu Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/2885df

碩士 === 國立屏東科技大學 === 觀賞魚科技國際學位專班 === 106 === Abstract Student ID: G10584004 Title of Thesis: Isolation and Characterization of Mycobacterium spp. from Diseased Clownfish Total pages: 118 Name of Institute: International Program in Ornamental Fish Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. Graduate Date: July 3, 2018 Degree Conferred: Master Name of Student: Miguel S. Flemming Advisor: Shih Chu Chen The Contents of Abstract in This Thesis: The three species Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium chelonae have dominated the literature on reports of Mycobacterium spp. isolated from fish. Mycobacterium is a gram-positive acid-fast bacilli which seems almost impossible to eradicate and can contribute to severe economic loss. Mycobacterium is one of the main bacterial species isolated from ornamental fish. Amphiprion spp. is a favorite in the ornamental fish industry due to their beauty, easy management and reproduction in captivity. In this study, two Mycobacterium species (M. marinum and M. fortuitum) were isolated from 39 cases of diseased clownfish. The isolated species were characterized morphologically (photochromogenecy), phenotypically (growth on othe media) and biochemically (nitrate, urease, catalase). Löwenstein–Jensen medium was used for isolation and genus and species were identified using acid fast staining and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, rpoB gene and Heat shock protein 65 gene. DNA sequencing and analysis followed by an NCBI-BLAST search comparison revealed that 77% of the isolates were M. marinum and 23% were M. fortuitum. Morphological results indicated that the M. marinum isolates are photochromogenic while M. fortuitum isolates were nonphotochromogenic. Physiological analysis shows that most isolates were able to grow on other medium and all isolates were catalase positive. M. fortuitum is a fast growing species, this was observed during the culture process, and M. marinum grew slower. These results are similar to previous reported studies and are all-important practices for bacteria characterization. Keywords: Mycobacterium, Characterization, Clownfish